Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Lusting After: Rugby Madras Tuxedo Jacket

I have wanted a madras tuxedo jacket since the day I discovered this picture:

It's from a 1973 GQ photospread presumably dealing with summer formal wear or garden party steeze or whatever you want to call it. This is obviously an insanely bold look, but I'd rather be "that guy" at one of these events then anywhere else. I mean, the inherent sillyness and tomfoolery of such gatherings is begging for a tux that is basically a middle finger with lapels and satin trim. The guys above are straight up killing it with their WASP lounge style and while you might be lacking that purebred 70's mane you can still suit up in a well fitting madras tuxedo jacket to capture a similar vibe. Rugby's new version is practically $300, but like I've mentioned before it's damn hard to snatch up formal gear these days for much cheaper without finding yourself in an incredibly lame Macy's "instant tuxedo - just add water" kit. And unless you really want to get punched in the face please, for heaven's sake, leave the flip flops at home.

United Style notes the "GQ Regrets" feature. That ought to be the name of the magazine. Seriously -- pick up a copy, thumb through it and ask whether you would wear 70-85 percent of the garments therein featured. Of course the photography is, like much fashion photography today, so poorly conceived and executed (one can barely see the clothes, so dimly light are the tableaus) as to make visual sense of any of it.